Secret Service Foils Plot to Disrupt NYC Cell Towers Near UN
United Nations Headquarters [Nils Huenerfuerst]
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A high-level United Nations General Debate is underway in New York City. Each year, the 193 member nations convene to discuss urgent international issues like peace, economic, and social matters. The event includes top-ranking government officials from around the world, including the President of the United States.
As world leaders meet for the high-stakes debate, their respective security teams are also mobilized in what’s often referred to as a massive spy game. Today, the US Secret Service announced a seizure of a huge stash of sophisticated networking equipment from multiple locations within a 35-mile radius of the UN back in August. The equipment’s capabilities could have wreaked havoc on the UN and NYC as a whole.
It’s the most extensive operation the Secret Service has ever discovered, involving more than 100,000 activated SIM cards, with additional ones pending deployment, and 300 servers. While the full plan has yet to be uncovered, the Secret Service stated the devices are capable of sending up to 30 million text messages per minute. This activity would overwhelm and shut down cell towers.
The Associated Press reported that the equipment can be used to exploit Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to send and receive bulk messages or calls, and can be operated remotely from thousands of miles away.
According to the New York Post, a cybersecurity researcher at Washington’s Center for European Policy Analysis said only Russia, China, and Israel are capable of such a setup. Since the investigation started, officials have identified ties to at least one foreign nation. They’ve also identified threats made to three high-level US officials working at the White House and the Secret Service, and ties to criminals, including cartel members, terrorists, and organized crime. In addition to the SIM cards and servers, the New York Times reports that officials also found 80 grams of cocaine, illegal firearms, and computers.
This discovery serves as a reminder that, despite technological advancements, cellular networks remain significantly vulnerable. A foreign adversary’s ability to shut down, at least temporarily, cellular service in a major US metropolitan area isn’t far-fetched. It’s entirely possible. Whether this operation was designed to shut down cell towers, facilitate further espionage, or serve purely for clandestine communication remains to be seen. Fortunately, the Secret Service was a step ahead in this case. Hopefully, we never experience what happens when they aren’t.
